Showcase molding



Dec. 7, 1943. C. F. PARKER SHOW cA'sE MOLDING Filed Feb. 26, 1941 M 25 Cg:RD i2 j [i 65 4 Car/ew 51 22522) BY M ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 7, 1943 SHOWCASE MOLDING Charles F. Parker, Mentor, Ohio, assignor to The Halle Brothers Compan corporation of Ohio y, Cleveland, Ohio, at

Application February 26, 1941, Serial No. 380,696 1 Claim. (01.240-6) This invention relates to show case construction and show case lighting, and has for its particular object the provision of such a construction particularly adapted to the use of fluorescent tube lamps for lighting purposes, and in which the structural features of the show case are combined with those features which give superior lighting effects.

In particular, the invention comprises an improved molding or cornice csonstruction for show cases, together with a fastening arrangement for concealing wiring and for holding the lighting elements therein in such relation to the elements of the molding as to prevent edge glare from getting into the plate glass of the show case to prevent troublesome reflections and at the same time to cast the maximum of light in the proper direction upon the contents of such show case. Along with this, the construction includes an arrangement whereby the show case will be structurally strong and of neat appearance, easily kept clean and dusted, free externally from projections to catch consumers clothing or hold dust and free internally from encroachments upon the display space. On the matter of electrical utility, my invention includes means for utilizing the molding both as a wiring conduit and as a mechanical element for holding the lamps. This purpose is served by an inside cover for the molding, serving the several combined purposes of reflector, lamp carrier, and concealment for the wiring.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description and drawing of a preferred form of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is an interior perspective view of a show case looking towards one corner;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section through my improved molding and attachments, taken on the plane 2-2 of Fig, 1;

Fig. 3 is another transverse section taken at another position to include an elevation of a preferred holding means for a lighting fixture, the molding being of slightly difierent shape, but otherwise corresponding to Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal view, partly in section and partly in elevation, as generally indicated by the line 44 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective detail of a portion of the conduit cover and a holding clip attached thereto.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 1, a show case construction is illustrated having glass front ll, end l2, and top [4, with wooden or other bottom l5, any suitable type of vertical corner The particular features included in my invention are shown at the top, being the front and side molding all generally indicated by reference character 20, and of form best shown in section in Fig. 2, combined with arrangements for holding the lighting fixtures and for concealing the wiring whereby the molding itself becomes part of a wiring conduit and fastening arrangement.

In detail, the molding takes the form of a strip which is preferably made of solid extruded metal,

although my invention is not limited to any par-. The preferred external cross" ticular material. section of this strip is that of a half hexagon with top 22, sloping front 23 and vertical front 24, a slight forward overhang 25 with depending flanges 28 and 29 which form a channel to hold the top edge of the glass H. A modified shape is shown in Fig. 3. The inside of the Vertical section 24 has an inwardly offset nosing 30 running along near its top, forming an interiorhorizontal channel which constitutes the lower part of the base or holding element for the fixtures and the conduit cover. The inside of the diagonal wall portion 23 is flat, and at this point it will be mentioned that the exact shape is not of great significance, inasmuch as it is obvious that this portion might be of some varied shape and still preserve its utilitarian functions.

Beneath the top horizontal section 22 and set some distance back from the front edge there is another nosing 32 generally similar to the nosing 30, downward. These two nosings 32 and 30 together constitute the holding support for the conduit cover, which in turn carries the lights.

The rear or inner portion of the top 22 is considerably thickened, and is rabbeted on its upper rear edge as at 34 to form a shelf for the top glass Id. The under surface of this thickened portion is finished in a curve 35 of large radius, with extended inward and downward flange 31, preferably terminating with a slight downward bead 36. The flange 31 projects inwardly to a distance equal to about half the diameter of the lighting tube 40. In order to economize material, the rearward or inner portion of the inner projection is formed as the flange 31, while additional support is given to the glass M by a shallower horizontal lip 38 whose upper surface forms part of the rabbet 34. The purpose of the elements 36 and 31 includes providing a shade which stops light rays from striking into the top glass M in such a way either as to cause either edge illumination or objectionable reflection which would cause difl'iculty in seeing the contents of the case. Similarly, the inner flange 29 and the bottom wall 26 prevent edge illumination of the front glass l l.

Referring now to the electrical features of the invention, a conduit for lighting wires 50 is formed with the molding itself by strips 52 which are held between the nosings 30 and 32 by means of suitable fastenings, here preferably shown as clips such as 54 which are spot welded as at 55 to the strips 52 or which may be separate and of sufficient length to reach between the two nosings and overhang each inwardly, as shown at 51 in Fig. 3. The strips 52 are preferably formed as best shown in Fig. with a ire-entrant flange 60 on the back of each. The width of the strip between the edges of the flanges 50 is slightly less than the clearance between nosings 30 and 32, so that the strips do not have to be slid in but may be passed directly in between the nosings. The fastening clips 54 are slightly offset, as again seen in Figs. 2 and 5, and snap under a nosing. These clips are bent up to form a tongue 52 to catch behind a nosing, usually the upper nosing 32, and are further bent to form a finger piece 63 by which to spring the clip out from behind its nosing in order to remove the strip 52. It will be appreciated that the strips 52 are in sections of any suitable length and that as many clips as necessary are used on a section of strip, ordinarily about one clip to every two or three feet of strip. The surfaces of the strips towards the show-case are preferably of reflecting material.

A convenient arrangement for fastening the lighting fixture to the strips is shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, where ears 65 are shown secured to the strip 52 by any suitable means, such as short bolts in the present illustration. These ears 65' have attached to them any sort of sockets appropriate to the lighting fixtures used, for instance the sockets 81 for the respective ends of a fluorescent tube 68. The wires 50 are carried through holes 69 in the strip 52 and run along the back of the strip as seen in Figs. 2, 3 and 4.

It will be apparent, particularly from Fig. 4, that the entire length of the molding may be occupied, except for sockets, by lighting tubes, or that the invention may be applied, as shown above the glass [2 in Fig. 1, simply as a means of concealing the wiring and holding it in place.

Among the mechanical advantages of the invention are that a single molding serves both for structural purposes and as a base for the lighting fixtures, that the wiring can be reached without dismantling any part of the show case, that no tools are needed to open or close the conduits, that if any parts are taken out for repair or for other purposes, they can immediately be replaced by other parts, without the necessity of fastening or unfastening any screws, no tools being needed but the fingers, and that any one of a variety of lighting fixtures may be so attached. The optical advantages include prevention of the light from escaping in directions which will be useless or which will impair proper illuminating effects, and is all concentrated to best advantage, avoiding any glare in the eyes of shoppers or any reflections which. make it difficult to see the contents of the case, and that all edge illumination of the glass is avoided.

As will readily be understood 'by those skilled in the art, the present invention is capable of use in a variety of forms and modifications, those herein shown being preferred embodiments. The scope of the invention, however, is not to be measured by such illustrated embodiments, but. by the claim which follows.

I claim:

In a show case molding, opposed internal nosings parallel to the respective longitudinal edges of the molding but extending in planes converging externally of the molding, a strip for carrying lighting elements, said strip being narrower than the space between the nosings and supported by the said nosings, spring clips secured to said strip and extending transversely beyond one side thereof and adapted to support said strip by resilient engagement with one of said nosings, and a finger grip formed on each of said spring clips. whereby the ends of the spring clips may be sprung to pass said one nosing in removing the strip from the molding.

CHARLES F. PARKER. 

